Are people no longer bothered by Covid….?

[Iwannabelikeyouohh]

Is anyone actually bothered about Covid?
From places I’ve been recently, everyone is just “normal”

I took my son to a toddler class this morning.

I walked in wearing my mask. Room full of 19 other adults and their toddlers.

Not one single adult had a mask on (expect me)
There was no distancing in the class.
It was as normal as normal can be.

I joined a new slimming class tonight.

Again I walked in wearing a mask. No one else had one on.
All chairs pushed up together, people sat close.

I don’t get it.

How can we go from distancing, mask wearing, avoiding people on walks (which is exactly what it was like) to nothing….

Many Asian countries have lived with masks for decades. Wearing one is a sign of consideration for others, and that's how I see it.

And not true.

Individualism can also work to an advantage

Looking at successful vaccine development (China’s isn’t working as well, not sure about Russian but would you want it) U.K. and US have proved how much of the global supply? Germany too

It’s vaccines that will make this crisis end and allow us to live properly, not masks or lockdowns.

And I think we have a too strong dependency on the small and limited rather than appreciating the actual fix. I’m not sure why.

Maybe the ‘stay safe’ message for so long. But even then some people act against vaccine so seems more than that.

Totally agree with marsha but then I always do

Yes we are a much more individualistic culture than many Asian nations. Didn't we always know that? There are pros and cons to this fact, but you don't over turn thousands of years of cultural norms in the space of a few months.

It’s vaccines that will make this crisis end and allow us to live properly, not masks or lockdowns.

Exactly.

The left seemed to decide very early on that tough restrictions and elimination goals were the 'right' thing to do and many people seem to be really struggling to let go of that idea, despite all we know now about the immense cost of lockdown and the futility of aiming for zero covid. And the huge impact of the vaccines too of course.

I mean… we could be more like China in all sorts of ways. I read today that they’ve banned computer games that show ‘effeminate’ characters, characters whose gender isn’t immediately obvious, and any games depicting same sex relationships. We could do that, too.

There was a story very early on that came out of Wuhan about a disabled teenager who died because his parents/carers tested positive, were hauled off to quarantine, and he wasn't capable of fending for himself.

That the type of outcome that was chalked up as collateral damage for the greater good of the community. It's not something to aspire to in my eyes.

The trouble is that some vaccine refusers and mask refusers (not exempt) on here also boasted about not adhering to lockdown restrictions when we had them. There's a little core of people who are just determined to do exactly what they want, no matter what.

Keating for first post, sometimes I feel mn is upside down ish, so good to have agreement

Second is so sad and awful

@aNewYorkerInLondon

Hi OP - I find it to be people showing their true colors that they don't care about anyone but themselves, their own comfort or convenience. At least there is an outward sign of who to keep away from.

My respect for the Scottish, with their approach of reopening with basic precautions like masking and basic distance, has grown by leaps and bounds. Locally though, I'm happy to keep myself and my spending out of the general public for now.

Some of those people not wearing masks are unable to due to health conditions or disabilities. You've no idea who you're judging, so perhaps just don't.

The trouble is that some vaccine refusers and mask refusers (not exempt)

In England there is no such thing as a mask refuser, you don't have to be exempt, only in very few setting s you have to wear.

@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr very, very few people can’t wear a mask for health reasons. They don’t cause problems with breathing. If they did, health professions couldn’t wear them for 12 hours at a time! A very small percentage of people with anxiety disorders may have increased anxiety in in mask. There is no issue for those with respiratory problems. If someone with a respiratory problem had difficulties with a mask, they would be too ill to be out and about, so they wouldn’t need one! So yes, we can judge a lot of the time!

My respect for the Scottish, with their approach of reopening with basic precautions like masking and basic distance, has grown by leaps and bounds.

Just like our Scottish covid case rate, then.

[quote AnnieSnap]@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr very, very few people can’t wear a mask for health reasons. They don’t cause problems with breathing. If they did, health professions couldn’t wear them for 12 hours at a time! A very small percentage of people with anxiety disorders may have increased anxiety in in mask. There is no issue for those with respiratory problems. If someone with a respiratory problem had difficulties with a mask, they would be too ill to be out and about, so they wouldn’t need one! So yes, we can judge a lot of the time![/quote]
And people with sensory issues. And people with ASD. And people with past trauma. Etc.
I wear a mask. I had to have counselling to be able to wear one, because I was petrified of being judged for not wearing one. I don’t have ‘anxiety disorder’, but I do have a history of severe abuse and trauma causing claustrophobia, which means I can’t even bear to have my duvet over my head. Counselling has meant that I can now wear one for the 2 mins it takes me to buy some milk, but that’s it.
You have no idea what people are dealing with.

@AnnieSnap Some asthmatics find breathing difficult if they wear a mask even though they are well enough to be out and about. Some people who have Long Covid also find it difficult to wear a mask. It's only in the past week that I can actually breathe wearing a cloth or surgical mask. I could only get my breath if I wore a visor. But I looked normal and could walk from my car to Tesco.

Sorry. Past couple of weeks.

[quote AnnieSnap]@GoldFrankensteinAndGrrr very, very few people can’t wear a mask for health reasons. They don’t cause problems with breathing. If they did, health professions couldn’t wear them for 12 hours at a time! A very small percentage of people with anxiety disorders may have increased anxiety in in mask. There is no issue for those with respiratory problems. If someone with a respiratory problem had difficulties with a mask, they would be too ill to be out and about, so they wouldn’t need one! So yes, we can judge a lot of the time![/quote]
Millions of people with conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia, autism or severe skin conditions, or survivors of DV/rape who live with PTSD as a result, cannot wear masks. And yes, there are those with respiratory conditions who are also be unable to wear masks.

Living with disabilities is difficult enough to begin with, but you crack on and 'judge a lot of the time' and make life harder with your nasty, ableist judgements.

Out of curiosity OP, how long are you expecting to wear a mask for?

This is the thing. Covid isn’t going away. For those who want to wear masks , it will never end. Do you want to wear masks for the rest of your life?

@Againstmachine

The trouble is that some vaccine refusers and mask refusers (not exempt)

In England there is no such thing as a mask refuser, you don't have to be exempt, only in very few setting s you have to wear.

No such thing as a vaccine refuser too. You can't refuse something that is a choice.

I am very bothered. I suppose I am an anomaly. Double vaccined but hospitalised a month ago today after testing positive 4 days previous to that.
I feel utterly horrendous. I so dearly wish we could get back to normal - whatever that may be but I am also still terrified of my friends and family catching it. I'm not alone around where I live in being double vaccinated but still having a torrid time. Most have been fine after a few weeks but a couple have needed new inhalers and steroids that they didn't need before.
I'm just finished a second dose of steroids, make sure I have an inhaler on me at all times and have no idea when I'm going to feel like myself. I don't want life to stop. I want to live it but I do wish folk would wear masks and book a PCR if they don't feel right. It is a clever virus and is changing all the time. The first symptom I had was terrible fatigue. 12hrs later I basically had all the list of symptoms.
Get your vaccines, wear masks in crowded areas, be sensible. You don't want you kids standing at the top of the stairs crying as you are carted off in an ambulance. Neither knowing if you would see eachother again.

I am still bothered by it. Still being careful and mask wearing. Then my daughter brought it home in the first week of term snd ive been very ill since. That’s what happens when some stop caring sadly

[quote wantanotherdog]@AnnieSnap Some asthmatics find breathing difficult if they wear a mask even though they are well enough to be out and about. Some people who have Long Covid also find it difficult to wear a mask. It's only in the past week that I can actually breathe wearing a cloth or surgical mask. I could only get my breath if I wore a visor. But I looked normal and could walk from my car to Tesco.[/quote]
Speaking as an asthmatic, with a granddaughter and a grandson who are asthmatic and knowing several other people with asthma, I can tell you that masks do not effect the breathing of asthmatics!

@Bunsnbobbins

I am still bothered by it. Still being careful and mask wearing. Then my daughter brought it home in the first week of term snd ive been very ill since. That’s what happens when some stop caring sadly

You can follow every Covid guideline to a T and still get it. I hope your DD feels better soon, but her Covid infection does not mean some one somewhere did not care.

@Againstmachine

The trouble is that some vaccine refusers and mask refusers (not exempt)

In England there is no such thing as a mask refuser, you don't have to be exempt, only in very few setting s you have to wear.

Sorry, I meant refusers at the time that masks were mandated. I should have made that clear.

Againstmachine *Many Asian countries have lived with masks for decades. Wearing one is a sign of consideration for others, and that's how I see it.

And not true.*

It most certainly is true. In Japan it has been the cultural norm to wear a mask when you have the symptoms of any infectious disease since the 1918 flu epidemic. It is considered a sign of good manners. The 2003 SARS epidemic saw it become a norm in the other Asian countries affected too, and many have continued to wear masks ever since. Even before Covid it was common to see people wearing masks in public places. Now masks are obligatory in many Asian countries even outside.

Keating Yes we are a much more individualistic culture than many Asian nations. Didn't we always know that? There are pros and cons to this fact, but you don't over turn thousands of years of cultural norms in the space of a few months.

I think you will find the cultural norm you are manifesting is the western orientalist stereotype of western agency and oriental passivity, and it has only been a norm since Victorian times. Asian history is full of examples of rebellions and mass protests. Hong Kong people have confirmed to the Covid regulations because they have kept them safe during this pandemic as with the last one but you could hardly say that they have been a model of compliance through the last few years of political protest.